Falconidae - Bird of the Month July 2013 *

Discussions and information on all Southern African Birds
User avatar
Toko
Posts: 26619
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:29 pm
Country: -

Re: FALCONIDAE - Bird of the Month July 2013

Post by Toko »



User avatar
Toko
Posts: 26619
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:29 pm
Country: -

Falconidae - Bird of the Month July 2013

Post by Toko »

Kestrels

Falcons are roughly divisible into three or four groups. In general terms, the larger birds are falcons; the smaller swift ones possessing long, narrow wings are hobbies and; those that hover while hunting for prey are the kestrels.

The name kestrel, (from French crécerelle, derivative from crécelle i.e. Ratchet) is given to several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around 10–20 metres over open country and swoop down on prey. Kestrels feed chiefly on terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates of appropriate size, such as small mammals, lizards or large insects. Other falcons are more adapted to active hunting on the wing. In addition, kestrels are notable for usually having much brown in their plumage.

Kestrels can hover in stationary air, even indoors in barns. While hovering they face towards any slight headwind, leading to the Common Kestrel being called a "Windhover" in some areas.
Kestrels are usually small and stocky falcons of mainly brown upperside color and sometimes sexually dimorphic; three African species that are generally grey in color stand apart from the typical members of this group. Unusually for falcons, plumage often differs between male and female, although as is usual with monogamous raptors the female is slightly larger than the male. This allows a pair to fill different feeding niches over their home range. Kestrels are bold and have adapted well to human encroachment, nesting in buildings and hunting by major roads. Kestrels do not build their own nests, but use nests built by other species.
Most species termed kestrels appear to form a distinct clade among the falcons. The most basal "true" kestrels are three species from Africa and its surroundings which lack a malar stripe, and in one case have—like other falcons but unlike other true kestrels—large areas of gray in their wings.


User avatar
Toko
Posts: 26619
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:29 pm
Country: -

Falconidae - Bird of the Month July 2013

Post by Toko »

Another Faucon crécerelle -O

Image


Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Geographic Range
Falco tinnunculus is a widespread kestrel species, found throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its range spans from Great Britain to China and as far south as South Africa. In Europe, F. tinnunculus is migratory and winters in southern Europe and sub-saharan Africa. However, the majority of the breeding population in Europe is non-migratory.

Physical Description
Falco tinnunculus is among the smallest of all raptors. Adults range in weight from 150 to 190 g, with females tending to be larger than males. Common kestrels have longer tails and wingspans relative to their body size than most other falcons, which allow them to be easily distinguished from related species. Common kestrel plumage ranges from gray to brown. The back is usually a darker color than the breast, both are covered in dark brown or black spots. The wings are tipped in black on the dorsal side and are pale underneath. Males often have a more bluish-gray heads and tails. Females are more of a reddish-brown color and have barring on the tail. In both sexes, there is a darker stripe or spot underneath each eye.

Biology
The Common Kestrel feeds largely on small mammals, especially the short-tailed vole, and small birds such as house sparrows. Invertebrates are also very important components of the diet; earthworms taken from cereal fields are particularly important during winter. Kestrels hunt by sight, and when hovering they are able to remain still even in strong winds. Upon spotting their quarry, they plunge to the ground, seizing the prey with their Kestrels nest in holes in trees, old buildings or in the abandoned nests of other birds, especially crows. From mid-April, between four and five eggs are laid; these are incubated largely by the female for up to 29 days. In their first few days of life, the young are fed by the female on food brought to the nest by the male. Both parents then take on the hunting duties, until the young fledge after 27 to 39 day.


User avatar
nan
Posts: 26304
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 9:41 pm
Country: Switzerland
Location: Central Europe
Contact:

Falconidae - Bird of the Month July 2013

Post by nan »

Toko wrote:.....The name kestrel, (from French crécerelle, derivative from crécelle i.e. Ratchet).....
.....Kestrels can hover in stationary air, even indoors in barns. While hovering they face towards any slight headwind, leading to the Common Kestrel being called a "Windhover" in some areas.....
to illustrate, a Crécerelle in stationary air... then dive (Switzerland) \O
Image
Image
Image


Kgalagadi lover… for ever
https://safrounet.piwigo.com/
User avatar
Dewi
Posts: 9147
Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 7:38 pm
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Falconidae - Bird of the Month July 2013

Post by Dewi »

Common Kestrel.


Image

Image


Dewi

What is the good of having a nice house without a decent planet to put it on? (H D Thoreau)
Duke

Falconidae - Bird of the Month July 2013

Post by Duke »

Lesser Kestrel on S128, Kruger

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

with a female Amur Falcon

Image


Duke

Falconidae - Bird of the Month July 2013

Post by Duke »

Rock Kestrel in Golden Gate National Park

Image

Image

Rock kestrel is very similar to male lesser kestrel - seen in Nylsvlei

Image


User avatar
Dewi
Posts: 9147
Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 7:38 pm
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Falconidae - Bird of the Month July 2013

Post by Dewi »

Lesser Kestrel

Image

Image

Link to information about this species...

http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/specie ... hp?id=3589


Dewi

What is the good of having a nice house without a decent planet to put it on? (H D Thoreau)
User avatar
Amoli
Posts: 6032
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 4:30 am
Country: South Africa
Location: Kempton Park
Contact:

Falconidae - Bird of the Month July 2013

Post by Amoli »

Greater Kestrels I saw in captivity last year when I took the cubs on an outing to Birds of Prey in Benoni..

Image

Image

Image


Pretoriuskop
Satara
Shingwedzi
20-30 Dec 2014
User avatar
Dewi
Posts: 9147
Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 7:38 pm
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Falconidae - Bird of the Month July 2013

Post by Dewi »

Greater Kestrel hunting and eating prey.....

viewtopic.php?f=47&t=203

Image


Dewi

What is the good of having a nice house without a decent planet to put it on? (H D Thoreau)
Post Reply

Return to “Birds”